I've got this idea for a camera (in my mind, a modified 2001 Panasonic Palmcorder) that, through some unknown mechanism, both controls another camera in an unknown location, and records as if seeing through that camera. There are no discernible means of wireless signal reception or transmission, and the "feed" from the other camera will not be disrupted if the object is placed in a Faraday cage or other shielding. Also, although this model records on DV cassettes and is incapable of encoding video in the MP4 multimedia format, any video data recorded will always be in this format. Attempts to discern the model of the other camera have been unsuccessful; files contain no metadata.

I was thinking that, when the Foundation initially acquired it, they just assumed it was broken camera because the other camera had a lens cap on, and then by chance, someone on the other end happened to remove the lens cap and they realized what they had.

One possible subplot I thought of envisions the Foundation somehow finding out that their camera will turn itself on at times, putting two and two together, and realizing that this thing is a major security risk. Another idea: maybe they only assumed it's giving feed from another camera. Maybe something else is going on that's far more mysterious.

I'm worried that this is either cliche, or has already been done. Does anyone have any feedback?

I like this idea, and don't think it's clichéd, though I'm not very familiar with many SCP's so I have no clue if it's already been done or not.

I assume it's a security risk as it's also sending feed to the other camera, not just receiving?

I'm not sure how this would fall into Foundation hands if the lens cap was on for a while. Wouldn't the owner just assume they have a broken camera and return it? What's anomalous without this aspect (the MP4 format, I guess? Is that enough?). I also don't think this reveal will have the intended shock value in the SCP format, it may just get mentioned in passing like "Initial recordings failed until lens cap of entangled camera was removed," or something.

I'm not sure where you want to go with this, but again I like the core concept, it's simple but has legs, and I picture the Foundation trying to track the other camera down through clues given in the received feed that could make for an interesting narrative.

I assume it's a security risk as it's also sending feed to the other camera, not just receiving?

Yeah, that's the idea. I think it would be best expressed through a story where the Foundation noticed the camera turning itself on and off on its own, investigates, but doesn't get anywhere, until something happens (some kind of attack on the Foundation, for example) which very clearly suggest the camera was being used for espionage. Maybe it wouldn't be explicitly stated, but implied by some partially censored addendum, or some update to the containment procedures.

As for where to go with it, I had this idea of an observation log which told a story of some kind; maybe something to tug at the heartstrings. Or maybe a rival group begins using their camera against the Foundation, who uses their own against the rival group, and both parties slowly become aware of the other's presence. I see a lot of places I could go with this, really.

If it's being used to spy on the Foundation, it might be kind of hard if they have it stashed in a safe containment locker. There wouldn't be much to see if it's only taken out for testing purposes. Also, I feel like current technology (granted, I'm a luddite) exists where this would not be anomalous, the camera would just be sending the feed to some off-site location. But I'm sure there're ways around this, and I'm always down for some spy games. And I agree this would probably be best suited for a tale.

For the observation log, I think it might work better with the tug at the heart strings route, keep the scope small and make the readers invested, but not sure how this would coincide with the espionage angle.

Sometimes, the foundation acquires items that have context as anomalous (confiscated from Marshall, Carter, and Dark for example).

Yeah, that was sort of the idea; the circumstances of its acquisition of would have lead the Foundation to sort of assume it was anomalous in some way. Perhaps a note recovered alongside by the previous "owners" would have given them some inkling of it's properties.

Come to think of it, I really like the idea of this being acquired from an MC&D raid; it seems like the kind of thing they'd deal. Is it alright if I use this?

It has lots of potential for creepy stuff, if handled well. What if the person on the other end figures out the whole deal of the SCP foundation because they left the camera next to another potential SCP (that started exhibiting anomalous properties)?

To me, it does not really seem like a MC&D item. MC&D items are usually useful to the buyer (such as the spongebob watches). A camera that shows a view from another camera does not seem like something somebody on a shady black market auction would want.

I wouldn't call that "useful" as much as entertaining (to a sadist). Sometimes the items they sell are the kind of thing a rich powerful person might use for sick entertainment, like the spongebob watches, or that one television set. I could see this being used in a similar way if MC&D were to retain control of the "linked" camera.

How would a camera that linked to another camera completely out of their control be entertaining to a sadist? I mean, they might have the linked camera still, but that's not exactly a sadist thingy. It could be used for espionage, though.

The espionage thing actually had me going there; I could use these to tell an interesting story regarding spying. For example,

Suppose the Foundation recovered multiple cameras during the initial discovery (let's call these "Group A"). Each camera from Group A, they determined, was linked to another camera in Group B.

Now, the foundation assumed that the control "link" was only one sided; in other words, Group A controlled and displayed a feed from their respective B-counterparts, but not the other way around. Then, say they recover another set of these "linked" cameras from a raid, only to discover that some of them display feed and control cameras already in their possession.

They realize why the cameras have been periodically turning themselves on and off: while they were using theirs to spy on rival groups, those groups were using theirs to spy on the Foundation.